In Chang'an, there is a special place that is not widely known but well known to the high-ranking gentry, called "Zhubo Pavilion". From the name, it sounds like a certain building, Xietingyuan, but it was once famous and used as a business, specializing in selling some high-quality pens, calligraphy and paintings.
But the Four Treasures of the Study and the calligraphy and paintings of celebrities here cannot be bought with money. They must have status and status. Because among the items it sells, in addition to the rare inkstones and antique calligraphy and paintings in the world, there are also authentic works by Li Yuanchang, the famous poet and painter of Chang'an.
Li Yuanchang's paintings are indeed unique, but they have not yet reached the level of being comparable to antique masterpieces. But in Zhubo Pavilion, his calligraphy and paintings are more expensive than any antique. Still, demand exceeds supply. "What is written on bamboo and silk is what is painted in paintings." The bamboo and silk pavilion, which was supposed to be an elegant place, became a place for Li Yuanchang to make money for him to spend a lot of time and drink, becoming the number one dandy in Chang'an.
People who don't know the inside story will accuse him, Li Yuanchang, of being arrogant, and those who buy paintings will accuse him of following the trend and flattering others. But those who really understand the inside story have gone to great lengths, bankrupted their fortunes, and even risked their lives for just a piece of graffiti written by Li Yuanchang, and simply ignored those antique paintings.
Of course, there are hidden rules at work here.
Li Yuanchang is arty and good at eating, drinking and having fun, but he is really not short of money. The opening of this bamboo and silk pavilion was completely the intention of Prince Li Chengqian. The more profound reason is that the emperor favored Wei King Li Chengqian and authorized him to open a literary museum, recruiting countless officials and scholars to serve as his wings. His strength and reputation continued to rise, posing a great threat to his East Palace.
Can Li Chengqian not be jealous and anxious? This anxiousness makes it easy to follow the example of others and follow their example.
But he felt that he did not have the literary talent of his fourth brother Li Tai, and he did not have much in common with the scholars and scholars. Moreover, due to his status constraints, it was difficult for him to get along with them. Therefore, he entrusted his best friend and confidant Li Yuanchang, the King of Han, to build a special village called "Zhubo Pavilion" in the name of the King of Han. Under the guise of selling poems, paintings, pens and inks, and learning about painting, he first made money, and secondly, he specialized in networking. Talented men of letters come here, most importantly, to secretly cultivate their wings.
People who can enter the Zhubo Pavilion are either talented, famous, or have status and family status. There are also some people who have none of these things. They only go in to ask for help, or they have been sued and sent to jail. Come for help, or those who have not been promoted for many years want to spend money to buy a smooth career...
With the two great backings of the prince and the king of Han, as long as it is not too outrageous, he can spend money at Zhubo Pavilion to buy convenience.
The official culture of the Zhenguan Tang Dynasty was quite clean, and corruption was not prevalent. But there are no absolutes. Zhubo Pavilion is like a small underground government office in Chang'an, even more effective than a government office. As long as you can get in here and "buy" Li Yuanchang's handmade paintings, the commission will be considered a success and will be completed nine times out of ten.
So it is conceivable that Li Yuanchang's scribblings are worth millions of dollars.
But the good times did not last long, and the incident at Zhubo Pavilion soon came to light and was discovered by Li Shimin. For this reason, Li Yuanchang was scolded and punished several times by the emperor, and he even punished the prince severely. Zhubo Pavilion had to disappear from the scene.
However, the villa could not be demolished after all. It was still placed under Li Yuanchang's name and used as a leisure villa. Moreover, although he did not dare to arrogantly "set up a private office" semi-publicly, occasionally Li Yuanchang would secretly take on some "private orders" with low risk every now and then, even Li Chengqian kept it secret.
A centipede insect is dead but not stiff. Li Yuanchang's courage is much greater than that of Li Chengqian.
Before and after the Chinese New Year, Li Yuanchang had never visited Zhubo Pavilion, but today, he arrived here early. He also specially brought several of his favorite singers and musicians, and prepared a rich banquet, which seemed to be a reception. Important guests.
After the Chenpai, two pavilions and carriages came into the Zhubo Pavilion compound with sparse saddles and horses. Li Yuanchang went out to greet him personally, and the two young men who got off the carriage were flattered and hurriedly bowed.
"How dare you bother the prince to personally welcome him if he is not talented?"
"Haha!" Li Yuanchang said with a smile, "Young Master Changsun and Young Master Fang are both close friends of Xiao Wang. Regardless of their status, they only care about friendship. If friends come from afar, you should welcome them. You two, please take a seat! "
The two young men who came, one was Sun Huan, the former deputy envoy of Baiqi and now the eldest son of Chang'an City Gate. The other was a tall man with strong bones, rough skin and the color of bronze wind and sand. They were the second son of the Fang family. Young Master, Fang Yi is in love.
The three of them seemed to have a personal relationship. They were chatting and laughing all the way inside. Changsun Huan said: "Brother Fang has escaped from the catastrophe and returned to the capital. I have long been willing to take care of my brother. Today, I have benefited from the prince, so I will pay more tribute to Fang." Brother, please have a few drinks and have a good rest."
Fang Yiai's expression was not lively, but rather dull and gloomy. She grinned and said, "The princess is getting married, and the emperor specially ordered my father to call me back. After all, I am the first to thank you. It's Princess Gaoyang. If it weren't for that stinky bitch to marry that bastard named Qin, I would still have to stay in the desert until the end of the year of the monkey. I really should have changed my name today. Invite Qin too and have a drink."
Li Yuanchang and Changsun Huan were startled for a moment, then looked at each other and laughed. They patted Fang Yiai's bear-like shoulders from left to right and said, "Young master Fang, don't be angry. That Qin Mubai is indeed not a thing. Nowadays, everyone hates him." He's three points. Okay, don't talk about him, I'll wait for the wine."
"Okay, let's drink!" Fang Yiai, who has been exiled in the desert for several years, has been exposed to a lot of rough Hu Feng. At the moment, regardless of his dignity, he sat cross-legged and drank the wine. .
"Haha, Mr. Fang is indeed a generous and generous man. Come on, Xiao Wang, I will give you a toast!" Li Yuanchang struck while the iron was hot, so he and Changsun Huan came to toast him. Fang Yiai didn't refuse. He drank from others' cups while he drank from the pot.
After drinking for three rounds, the topic of the three people quickly shifted to their common enemy-Qin Mubai.
After Fang Yiai drank three glasses of wine, the anger he had suppressed for a long time burst out. He slapped the table and cursed: "Who is that guy? He actually hurt me like this! Princess Gaoyang refused to marry me and I remarried him." , whether it is out of intention or out of necessity, it is a great shame and humiliation for me! There is only one thing left for me to do in this life - if I don't kill that bastard named Qin with my own hands, strip him naked and look down on others! Duke Gaoyang asked me to humiliate him, and I vow not to be a human being!"
"Second brother Fang, you drank too much. How can the prince curse the princess when he is here?" Changsun Huan said lightly.
"Oh, it doesn't matter." Li Yuanchang hurriedly waved his hands and said, "Although I have her as my niece in my heart, she has never had me as the imperial uncle in her heart. That day when she watched Qin Mubai beat me hard, how could she The slightest bit of affection between uncle and nephew? The girl is not interested in staying. Now the only thing left in this girl's heart is that brat Qin Mubai. Her father's position is gone, so how can she take me, the emperor's uncle, seriously? In this case, why should I put my hot face on my cold butt? But Brother Fang is an upright and upright man, and Xiao Wang appreciates it."
"Then I'll give you three glasses of wine to the prince!" Fang Yiai's eyes were bloodshot and red. He swung the jug and started to toast. Li Yuanchang also took the wine and drank three glasses with him.
The three of them suddenly felt that they had a similar atmosphere, and they felt as if they had met each other too late.
Changsun Huan sighed and said: "As for the younger brother, he is the most useless. I think that when I was running for the Hundred Cavalry, I was always suppressed by him. Later, I was actually kicked out of the Hundred Cavalry and transferred to guard the gate of Chang'an. What annoyed me the most was that instead of protecting me, my father scolded me and gave me a death order, telling me to work in the City Gate Department for five years without even thinking of moving out. Every day, I looked at those high-ranking officials! The dignitaries passed by in cars and horses with great pride, and I had to smile and return the favor. It felt like being stripped naked and whipped in the street. This humiliation is beyond words!
"Yes!" Li Yuanchang sighed with pity and said, "On that day, if that brat Qin Mubai hadn't used a little cleverness to take away your position as the Hundred Cavalry Envoy, today, marrying a princess would bring great glory and fame. It is your eldest grandson, Erlang, who established Wanli Ding Chaotang. The man named Qin robbed you of your future and humiliated you. This hatred is indeed irreconcilable! "
"Hmph!..." Changsun Huan drank a whole glass of wine with a "Ziliu" sound, and then he let out a long snort and tightened his face.
Li Yuanchang glanced at the two of them and gave a self-deprecating smile: "However, compared with Xiao Wang, you are nothing. My majestic prince, neither the late emperor nor the current emperor has ever touched a finger of mine. He surnamed Qin actually dared to push me to the ground and beat me severely, and even broke a few of my front teeth... Have you ever experienced such humiliation? "
After saying that, Li Yuanchang opened his mouth and lifted his lips, revealing a few broken teeth inside.
Changsun Huan and Fang Yiai looked at each other, shocked and filled with indignation!
"I didn't say anything, kill him!" Fang Yiai gritted his teeth and roared, his cheeks bulging and his eyes blood red.
"Be smart and outnumbered." Changsun Huan said hurriedly, "But I agree with Brother Fang. This person must die!"
"Xiao Wang, that's what I mean!" Li Yuanchang slammed his wine glass on the table, squinted his eyes, and said in a deep voice, "Privately speaking, this person and the three of us have a sworn hatred; in public speaking, , The survival of the prince is related to the life and death of Xiao Wang. Now it is certain that Qin Mubai is becoming more and more powerful and has no good impression of the prince. He may stab the prince secretly at some time and he will be eliminated! "
Changsun Huan frowned, nodded solemnly, and said: "I have been strictly ordered by my father to not get close to the prince or any of the kings of Wei, but I have always been attracted to the prince and have been fascinated by it for a long time. My brother Changsun Chong followed the emperor's wife Ba is close to the King of Wei, and he always gives me a look. Why can't I get close to the Crown Prince while he is close to him? !”
"Okay!" Li Yuanchang happily clapped his hands on the table, then he and Chang Sun Huan looked at Fang Yiai and asked, "Brother Fang, what about you?"
"No need to ask." Fang Yiai took a sip of wine and said, "I used to follow the King of Wei in the past, but when I was in trouble, he didn't ask and even wanted to add insult to injury. I was desperate for him. Although the prince is weak now , But it is better to treat others with kindness and justice than to be so snobbish and snobbish as the King of Wei. From now on, the more than one hundred kilograms of my wife's love will be handed over to the King of Han and thrown to the prince!"
"Great!" Li Yuanchang punched his fist excitedly and said happily, "With the help of the second brother Changsun and the second brother Fang, the East Palace has become more powerful. The prince must be very happy! - From now on, Zhubo Pavilion will be the place where we will stay. But Everyone comes here to discuss any matter, big or small. The first priority is to kill Qin Mubai, firstly to avenge us, and secondly, to avoid the hidden danger of Qin Mubai. We are getting married, so we must be arrogant and careless to take precautions. We must think of a wise and courageous strategy to eliminate it!"
"good!"
…
The three of them discussed secretly in the room for an hour, before Li Yuanchang ordered the food and wine to be changed, and called in kabuki opera singers to perform performances to please them. The faces of all three of them were glowing red, and Li Yuanchang said with a smile: "Recently, Xiao Wang has acquired two stunning dancers. Their martial arts and sword dancing are unparalleled in the world. They are one of a kind. Do you want to see them?"
Changsun Huan and Fang Yiai were both Taoist friends, and they immediately clapped their hands and rejoiced. Li Yuanchang went to invite people. Before the future came, the eldest grandson Huandou ran was surprised and said: "Your Highness the King of Han, the pair of beauties you mentioned as 'unparalleled in martial arts and sword dancing' are the newly born twin sisters from Qinxian Pavilion, the stunning twins?"
"Haha! Mr. Changsun is knowledgeable, that's right!"
"Amazing, amazing!" Changsun Huan praised with laughter, "Your Highness, the King of Han, is truly blessed! These twin sisters are popular in Chang'an, and only a figure like the King of Han deserves to enjoy them!"
Fang Yiai, who had just returned to the capital, was stunned for a moment and said blankly: "What a wonderful person. He deserves such praise from the second brother Zhangsun. Could he be a fairy in the sky?"
"Don't you know it after seeing it?"
…
At this time, the old Qin family was in the Yiguo Duke's Mansion with Liji Twelve.
Qin Mubai got off the horse, directed everyone to carry it and salute it, and sent the maids to wait on his mother and sister and Princess Gaoyang to go back to their room to rest. Princess Gaoyang called Qin Mubai to sit down and drink tea together. Qin Mubai said that he had to go out for some things and would be back soon and have dinner together in the evening.
Princess Gaoyang didn't want to ask too many questions, so she went back to her room first when she was tired. The servants and maids lit fires, boiled water, served tea, and were busy with each other.
Qin Mubai rode on his Huoyun horse, went straight to the West Market alone, and quietly entered the Qinxian Pavilion wine shop through the back door.
"Ask Yao'er to come see me." After saying this, Qin Mubai sat down in a servant's room, drank tea and rested.
Not long after, Yao'er came, and naturally he was extremely happy and beaming with joy. The two exchanged pleasantries for a few words and talked about their farewell feelings. Qin Mubai then asked: "Where are the mother and daughter who came from Xiangyang more than a month ago?"
Yao'er then told Qin Mubai that since half a month ago, Han King Li Yuanchang had been pestering her day and night, sending people to invite the two sisters five, six or eight times a day to perform at his house. Because of his special status and no unusual behavior, Wu Yuanqing and Wu Yuanshuang did not dare to offend him, so Qinxian Pavilion had no choice but to let them frequently travel between Qinxian Pavilion and the Han Palace. In recent days, they even stayed in the palace at night and did not go back to Qinxian Pavilion very often. They only sent people to send back the money for drinking and dancing and the rewards from the King of Han every day.
After Qin Mubai heard this, he was secretly happy and told Yao'er to find a chance to tell the three of them that Qin Mubai was back. If there is a letter, ask her Yao'er to convey it. There is no need to say anything else or mention it to outsiders. and. Yao'er didn't understand, but he didn't ask any more questions, so he kept the matter in his heart and kept it in mind.
Qin Mubai returned home later, and his mother, sister and Princess Gaoyang fell asleep first after working hard all the way. He took a hot bath by himself and felt so comfortable that he almost fell asleep. Just after taking a bath, the servants and maids cooked dinner. Yao'er also came back early. The family reunited and prepared to have a banquet together.
Taking a break, Qin Mubai called Yao'er to a quiet place and asked her if she had any news. Yao'er's expression was a little nervous, and she said to Qin Mubai: "Third brother, just now I sent someone to Hanwang's Mansion to call Aunt Su back on the grounds that there was an error in the account of the drinking and dancing money, and tell her that you are back. She asked me to convey the news. Let me tell you that today the King of Han called her mother and daughter to the Bamboo Silk Pavilion to perform a sword dance for two special guests. "
"I have heard of the Bamboo Silk Pavilion. It must have been abandoned a long time ago. Because it has always been special, Li Yuanchang only regarded it as a private residence and rarely brought outsiders in. Tell me, what a special guest?"
"Chang Sun Huan, and Fang Yiai!" After Yao'er finished speaking, his face changed, and he murmured, "Third brother, Li Yuanchang is entangled with these two people, is he trying to target you? "
Qin Mubai twisted his eyebrows, was silent for a moment, and said, "Yao'er, send a message to Aunt Su that it's time to blow the wind."
"Blowing the air?"
"Yes, just say that and she will understand."
"Okay! I'll go right away!"
"There's no need to rush, tomorrow won't be too late." Qin Mubai grabbed Yao'er who was about to leave and said with a smile, "It's been a while, let's get together as a family to have dinner!"
"That's fine..." Yao'er nodded lightly, with a smile on his face. He turned his gray eyes to Qin Mubai and said softly, "Third brother, you are back. Yao'er... miss you very much."
"Third brother misses you too. As well as mother and Shuang'er, we all miss you very much. How are you doing in the New Year, Yao'er?" Qin Mubai stroked Yao'er's back and walked with her to the main hall while chatting. And go.
At this time, he was secretly thinking: It is not surprising that Li Yuanchang and Changsun Huan are colluding together. The strange thing is that Fang Yiai also came back. It seems that after the emperor officially granted the marriage, he remembered Fang Yiai who was still driven out of the house and exiled, and felt that Fang Xuanling was not good-looking, so he brought him back.
Well, these three people all have enmity with me, which means that they are in an alliance and want to unite to deal with me.
Okay, okay, I'm worried that I don't have a good opportunity or a good excuse to attack you. If you take the initiative, it will save me trouble!